In the 1970s and early 1980’s skateparks were popping up all over the U.S. Skateboarders were enjoying a mix of terrain such as bowls, half-pipes, full-pipes, snake-runs, quarter pipes, bank ramps, and more. Unfortunately the skatepark boom was short-lived and by the mid 1980s most had closed down and been wiped from this earth without a trace.

With limited places to ride, skateboarders had to adapt, so they started to build backyard ramps that included anything from a mini ramp all the way up to twelve-foot vert ramp. When they ran out of backyards or didn’t have one to build a ramp in they had to get creative and branch out to abandoned buildings, slabs of concrete, or under bridges in derelict parts of town. These areas were best suited for building DIY skateparks as there wasn’t usually anyone around to stop them or anyone that really cared.

Having limited resources skaters would combine what cash they had for a few bags of concrete, maybe even raid a construction site for some other supplies, and then get to work. It was this desperation and determination to have a place to skate that sparked the Do-It-Yourself movement.

Most cities in the United States have some kind of DIY skate spot but there are only a handful that have evolved into world-renowned skateparks. DIY’s are definitely not like the perfect skateparks you see built today by the country’s best designers, they are far from it. Some have rough surfaces, tough vertical transitions, and unique obstacles that are one-of-a-kind. Every DIY skatepark is special in its own way, so let’s take a look at what makes these DIY skateparks in the U.S. the best.

Best DIY Skateparks In The U.S.

Burnside Skatepark (Portland, Oregon)

Burnside Skatepark is renown in the skateboarding industry due to it being the first DIY skatepark ever built. The entire skatepark was built by skateboarders without any government funding, although Dreamland and Grindline have helped out over the years. Burnside’s construction began over thirty-years ago without permission from the city of Portland, and fortunately it still stands today.

This skatepark is not suited for beginners due to the shear size of the bowls and ramps. Even intermediate skateboarders might have difficulty navigating the vertical transition and unique terrain here. If you do decide to skate here make sure to show respect to the locals and you should be fine (meaning not experience localism).

FDR Skatepark (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

FDR is a world-renowned DIY skatepark that was built by the local skateboarding community in Philadelphia. This skatepark has been referred to as a ‘concrete paradise’ and featured in both Thrasher and Skateboarder magazine numerous times. It can be categorized into different sections that include the core park which lies under the overpass, the connecting pool area, mini ramp, and vert ramp. There is always new and different art work being added to the ramps and bridge pillars which give it an engaging visual experience.

If you are a Bam Margera fan, you’ve no doubt watched many clips of him skateboarding here earlier in his career. I know it’s a big call, but FDR is certainly up there as one of the best skateparks in the world!

Parisite DIY Skatepark (New Orleans, Louisiana)

Parasite Skatepark started out as a DIY project by local New Orleans skateboarders back in 2008, but in 2013 the city bulldozed all of their hard work completely destroying the skatepark.

However, these local skateboarders never gave up and after countless trips to city hall and talking to as many city government employees as they could, the city finally decided to listen and work with the local skateboarding community. They were given the green light to go ahead and improve the skatepark legally and since then, Parasite Skatepark has received several donations and even support from the Sheckler Foundation, The Skatepark Project, Spohn Ranch, NFL player Drew Brees, and many others!

The skatepark has a variety of terrain that includes a bowl, half pipe, quarter pipes, vert quarters, flat bars, rails, hubba ledges, flat ledges, stairs, slappy curbs, manual pads, bank ramps, and more.

Some of the obstacles were actually donated to the facility from the barge used for the Red Bull Mississippi Grind which was an event series centered around a skate-able barge that floated down the Mississippi River from St. Paul in Minnesota to New Orleans, stopping at port cities along the way to host competitions and demos

If you are in NOLA and love skateboarding, then visiting Parasite DIY is a must!

Washington Street Skatepark (San Diego, California)

Washington Street is a DIY skatepark started by local skateboarders in 1999. This was a reaction to officers who were issuing tickets and incarcerating skateboarders for skating in the city of San Diego. They wanted to create a space where they would be left alone by the law.

Like most DIY skateparks, Washington Street had its issues with the city trying to tear it down as construction of any type on public property without permits is deemed illegal. The local skateboarding community managed to raise enough awareness about their project that eventually the city had to listen to them. After years of hard work, fund raising, and jumping through hoops for the city, this DIY skatepark was deemed legal in 2002.

Always remember to respect the rules of the skatepark and do not enter if the gates are locked. If you would like to donate to the Washington Street skatepark and contribute to its upkeep you can do so here.

Channel Street Skatepark (San Pedro, California)

The San Pedro Skatepark Association formed in 2002 after numerous attempts by locals to get a skatepark in San Pedro were denied by the local city government.

With the skateboarding population and the DIY skatepark movement growing, they decided to have a go at doing it themselves. The local skateboarders created a place to call home just underneath the 110 freeway, two blocks from the LAPD Harbor Division station.

This spot was originally a park and ride lot, and a railroad right-of-way that was overrun with homeless encampments and illegally dumped trash piles. Seeing what had been done in similar places like Burnside up in Portland and Washington Street down in San Diego, local skaters and community members adopted this abandoned, neglected spot, cleaned it up, and slowly built what would become known to the world as the Channel Street Skatepark.

Marginal Way Skatepark (Seattle, Washington)

Marginal Way is a DIY skatepark built by the local skateboard community in Seattle. This DIY like most is a work of art with gnarly transition, pool coping, and gritty concrete. It also has some really unique features such as a tile mosaic cradle and a marble-topped bank wall.

It is totally worth checking out if you are into transition or want to see what is possible when a community comes together to create something from nothing. But you should know that this is not a beginner friendly skatepark however it is quite impressive.

You Might Also Like:

• Best Skateparks In Portland
• Best Skateparks In Seattle
• Best Skateparks In San Diego
• Best Skateparks In Pennsylvania

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